Sutera plant named &#39;dancop17&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  plant named ‘DANCOP17’ particularly characterized by having 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 2.0 cm in diameter and light purple in color with a yellow-orange colored throat; vigorous growth which maintains a trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response, suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Sutera cordata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANCOP17’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant, botanically known as Sutera cordata, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANCOP17’.

Sutera, of the Scrophulariaceae family, consists of annuals which are grown in most climate zones in the U.S., and only in zones 9 and 10 if it is a perennial plant.

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Sutera variety with large, pink flowers and a trailing, compact growth habit.

The new Sutera cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor in 2004, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-4-3’ from our breeding program (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is Sutera cultivar designated ‘OP7’ from our breeding program (unpatented). The new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP17’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sutera cultivar by vegetative cuttings was first performed in August of 2004 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP17’ which in combination distinguish this Sutera as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. 5-petalled flowers, measuring 2.0 cm in diameter and light         purple in color with a yellow-orange colored throat;

2. Vigorous growth which maintains a trailing, compact growth habit;

3. Early flowering response; and

4. Suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Plants of ‘DANCOP17’ differ from the plants of the female parent, ‘CV-4-3’ primarily in flower size and growth habit. Plants of ‘DANCOP17’ produce flowers larger in size (about 2.0 cm in diameter) than plants of ‘CV-4-3’ (about 1.6 cm in diameter). Plant of ‘DANCOP17’ have a more compact growth habit (height about 7 cm and spread about 40 cm) than plants of ‘CV-4-3’ (height about 16 cm and spread about 50 cm).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘DANCOP17’ is the Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOPINK’ (allowed, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/068,872). The new cultivar is distinguishable from ‘DANCOPINK’ in flower size and growth habit. The flower size of ‘DANCOP17’ is larger (2.0 cm in diameter) and its growth habit is more vigorous, whereas ‘DANCOPINK’ flowers are smaller (1.5 cm in diameter) and its growth habit is less vigorous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP17’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘DANCOP17’.

FIG. 1 shows a top view perspective of a typical ‘DANCOP17’ plant in a hanging basket at 3 months. FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a single flower of ‘DANCOP17’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP17’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP17’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant described is 2 months.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Sutera cordata.         -   Commerical.—Sutera c.v. Copia Pink Shade. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-4-3’             from our breeding program (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Sutera cultivar designated ‘OP7 from             our breeding program (unpatented). -   Optimal growth conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight or slight shade.         -   Temperature.—Day: 20° C. to 24° C. Night: 16° C. to 20° C.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of             about 10° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 30°             C.         -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with a level of 100 ppm             Nitrogen.         -   Growth regulators.—Unnecessary. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings of side shoots.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days at 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 14 days at 18° C. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: 7 cm. Spread: 40 cm.         -   Shape.—Trailing, compact growth habit.         -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy in moderate climate.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Crop time.—About 8 to 10 weeks for a flowering pot.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Branching habit.—Vigorously branched.

Lateral branches.— TABLE 1 Branch characteristic Primary Secondary Length  35 cm. 13 cm. Diameter   2 mm.  1 mm. Internode Length 2.5 cm.  1 cm. Texture Slightly rough Slightly rough Pubescence Present Present Color Green, RHS 138B Green, RHS 138B

-   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement and attachment.—Opposite, petiolate.         -   Leaf length.—2.0 cm.         -   Leaf width.—1.1 cm.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Slightly velvety.         -   Pubescence (both surfaces).—Slightly present.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137B.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137B.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137C.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137C.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Green, RHS             137B. Lower surface: Green, RHS 137C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 5 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: Green, RHS             137B.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None. -   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round in moderate             climate. Flowering occurs year round outdoors in Israel.         -   Flowering response time.—About 4 weeks from planting.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: Flowering of a single             flower lasts for 7 days.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 200.         -   Flower bud (about 2 days prior to opening).—Shape:             Spatulate. Length: 10 mm. Diameter: 5 mm. Texture: Velvety             Color: Light purple, RHS 76C.         -   Flower type.—Solitary, auxiliary.         -   Flower form.—Salverform.         -   Flower symmetry.—Bilateral.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward and outward.         -   Corolla size.—Diameter (spread): 2.0 cm. Diameter at lobes:             20 mm. Overall flower height: 10 mm. Length of corolla tube:             9 mm. Diameter of corolla tube: 1 mm. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Length.—8 mm.         -   Width.—7 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Rounded and gameopetalous.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (upper & lower surfaces).—Slightly velvety.         -   Color.—Upper surface, when opening: Light purple, RHS 76A.             Upper surface, opened flower: Light purple, RHS 76A. Lower             surface, when opening: Light purple, RHS 76B. Lower surface,             opened flower: Light purple, RHS 76C.         -   Corolla throat color.—Yellow-orange, RHS 17A. -   Calyx: -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Length.—6 mm.         -   Width.—1 mm.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Velvety. Lower surface: Velvety.         -   Upper surface color.—Green, RHS 137C.         -   Lower surface color.—Green, RHS 137C.         -   Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx limb.—Absent. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Aspect.—Slanted upward.         -   Length.—12 mm.         -   Diameter.—1 mm.         -   Angle.—About 45°.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Color.—Green, RHS 146D. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: 4. Arrangement: Didynamous. Type: Basifixed.             Dehiscence of stamens: Extrorse. Color: Yellow-orange, RHS             17A.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Cylinder. Length: 1 mm. Color:             Yellow-orange, RHS 17A.         -   Filaments.—Length: About 9 mm. Color: RHS 155D white group.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Moderate. Color: Yellow-orange, RHS 17A.             Pollination requirements: Young flowers, vital pollen, and             receptive, open stigma. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: About 10 mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Undulate. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color:             Green-Yellow, RHS 1C.         -   Style.—Shape: Terete. Length: About 8 mm.         -   Ovary.—Shape: Ellipsoid. Position: Superior. Length: About             2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Color: Green, RHS 143C. -   SEEDS:     -   -   Quantity per fruit.—About 20.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Length.—1 mm.         -   Width.—0.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS 163A. -   Fruit:     -   -   Type.—Capsule.         -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.         -   Length.—About 4 mm.         -   Width.—About 2 mm.         -   Texture.—Rugose.         -   Color.—Greyed-Orange, RHS 165C. -   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available. 

1. A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP17’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 